Open AccessEffects of Age and Nutritional Status on Surgical Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer
Author(s) -
Bernard S. Linn,
David S. Robinson,
Nancy G. Klimas
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-198803000-00008
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck cancer , head and neck , cancer , gerontology , general surgery , surgery
Older and younger malnourished and well-nourished head and neck cancer patients scheduled for surgery were studied. More of the young (75%) compared with the old (58%) underwent curative surgery, and only the old with lower clinical states of cancer were selected. When data on those undergoing surgery were analyzed in regard to older and younger malnourished and well-nourished men, the malnourished old had the poorest surgical outcomes of any group, with significantly more complications and morbidity rates. The well-nourished old had outcomes that did not differ from younger patients. On further examination, 60% of the young malnourished and only 20% of the old malnourished received preoperative enteral or parenteral nutritional support. Findings suggest that more attention to the needs of the older malnourished patients could improve surgical outcomes.